A method and system of preparing a drone for takeoff are disclosed. The drone has at least one first control member and at least one second control member that are suitable for being actuated manually by at least one person in charge of preparing the drone for takeoff. The drone also includes a navigation light and at least one anticollision light for generating various mutually different light signals in a predetermined switch-on sequence.

A blimp includes a circular disk-shaped envelope filled with a lighter-than-air gas. A gondola is affixed to an underside of the envelope and is disposed at a region directly below a center point of the circle defined by the intersection of the envelope and the horizontal plane. The gondola includes: a horizontally-disposed elongated circuit board that functions as a structural member of the gondola; and a vertical member extending upwardly from the circuit board and having a top that is attached to the underside of the envelope. A thrusting mechanism is affixed to the gondola and is configured to generate thrust. An electronics suite is disposed on and electrically coupled to the circuit board and includes a blimp processor configured to generate control signals that control the thrusting mechanism. A battery is affixed to the gondola and provides power to the electronics suit and the thrusting mechanism.

A blimp includes a circular disk-shaped envelope filled with a lighter-than-air gas. A gondola is affixed to an underside of the envelope and is disposed at a region directly below a center point of the circle defined by the intersection of the envelope and the horizontal plane. The gondola includes: a horizontally-disposed elongated circuit board that functions as a structural member of the gondola; and a vertical member extending upwardly from the circuit board and having a top that is attached to the underside of the envelope. A thrusting mechanism is affixed to the gondola and is configured to generate thrust. An electronics suite is disposed on and electrically coupled to the circuit board and includes a blimp processor configured to generate control signals that control the thrusting mechanism. A battery is affixed to the gondola and provides power to the electronics suit and the thrusting mechanism.

An aircraft collision avoidance system includes a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors, a plurality of sensor processors, a plurality of transmitters, and a display device. Each 3D LIDAR sensor is enclosed in an aircraft exterior lighting fixture that is configured for mounting on an aircraft, and is configured to sense objects within its field-of-view and supply sensor data. Each sensor processor receives sensor data and processes the received sensor data to determine locations and physical dimensions of the sensed objects. Each transmitter receives the object data, and is configured to transmit the received object data. The display device receives and fuses the object data transmitted from each transmitter, fuses the object data and selectively generates one or more potential obstacle alerts based on the fused object data.

An aircraft collision avoidance system includes a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors, a plurality of sensor processors, a plurality of transmitters, and a display device. Each 3D LIDAR sensor is enclosed in an aircraft exterior lighting fixture that is configured for mounting on an aircraft, and is configured to sense objects within its field-of-view and supply sensor data. Each sensor processor receives sensor data and processes the received sensor data to determine locations and physical dimensions of the sensed objects. Each transmitter receives the object data, and is configured to transmit the received object data. The display device receives and fuses the object data transmitted from each transmitter, fuses the object data and selectively generates one or more potential obstacle alerts based on the fused object data.

There is a remote control device or drone, which has software and a combination of lights or LED on an lighting ring or apparatus that can move independently of the drone; the drone can be programmed or be reactive to sound or other stimulus to create the effect of writing shapes or words in the air and typically at nighttime against a dark sky.

There is a remote control device or drone, which has software and a combination of lights or LED on an lighting ring or apparatus that can move independently of the drone; the drone can be programmed or be reactive to sound or other stimulus to create the effect of writing shapes or words in the air and typically at nighttime against a dark sky.

An aircraft navigation light includes: a navigation lighting arrangement, having: a power input, couple able to an aircraft on-board power supply network, at least one navigation light source, and a power conditioning circuit, coupled between the power input and the at least one navigation light source for conditioning a power flow from the power input to the at least one navigation light source; an auxiliary power supply, coupled to the power conditioning circuit for diverting power from the navigation lighting arrangement; and a power supply output, coupled to the auxiliary power supply, for supplying power from the auxiliary power supply to an exterior aircraft light, external to the aircraft navigation light.

An aircraft navigation light includes: a navigation lighting arrangement, having: a power input, couple able to an aircraft on-board power supply network, at least one navigation light source, and a power conditioning circuit, coupled between the power input and the at least one navigation light source for conditioning a power flow from the power input to the at least one navigation light source; an auxiliary power supply, coupled to the power conditioning circuit for diverting power from the navigation lighting arrangement; and a power supply output, coupled to the auxiliary power supply, for supplying power from the auxiliary power supply to an exterior aircraft light, external to the aircraft navigation light.

An exterior aircraft light includes a mounting board, a light source arranged on the mounting board and a lens arranged over the light source. The lens includes a first lens portion on a first side of a cross-sectional center plane, which is orthogonal to the mounting board and which runs through the light source, and a second lens portion on a second side of the cross-sectional center plane. The light also includes a reflector, arranged to reflect light, emitted by the light source into the first lens portion, towards the second lens portion, wherein the lens fully encloses the light source and the reflector.